Convenient Semi-Friend
{{Short description|Japanese manga series}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Convenient Semi-Friend
| image = Kōtsugō Semi-Friend volume 1 cover.jpg
| caption = First tankōbon volume cover
| ja_kanji = 好都合セミフレンド
| ja_romaji = Kōtsugō Semi-Furendo
| genre = Yuri{{cite web |title=まんがタイムきららから生まれた"せふれ"がテーマのガールズラブ4コマ1巻 |url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/554968 |publisher=Comic Natalie |access-date=August 3, 2024 |language=Japanese |date=December 26, 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type = manga
| author = Minori Chigusa
| publisher = Houbunsha
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Yen Press}}
| demographic = Seinen
| magazine = Manga Time Kirara
| first = May 9, 2023
| last =
| volumes = 2
| volume_list =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|Convenient Semi-Friend|好都合セミフレンド|Kōtsugō Semi-Furendo}} is a Japanese four-panel manga series written and illustrated by Minori Chigusa. The series began serialization in Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine in May 2023. Two tankōbon volumes have been released as of October 2024.
Plot
The series follows Suuna Kuruma, a high school student who has just moved into a new dorm. Upon arriving at her new room, she discovers a girl, Ruka Hamanasu, flirting with another girl. Suuna is surprised to see this happen, to which Ruka claims that they were not going out. She claims the other girl was her {{nihongo||セフレ|sefure}}, which she says is short for "semi-friend". As Suuna has no other friends, Ruka offers to be her semi-friend.
Characters
;{{nihongo|Suuna Kuruma|久留間 珠海|Kuruma Suuna}}
:A high school student and Ruka's roommate. She has a very shy personality and thus had been unable to make any friends prior to meeting Ruka. She is conscious of her name as its kanji is hard to read.
;{{nihongo|Ruka Hamanasu|浜薔薇 輝子|Hamanasu Ruka}}
:Suuna's roommate, whom she saw flirting with another girl during their first meeting. She claims the other girl is her sefure, but as Suuna is unfamiliar with the term, she claims it is short for "semi-friend". She has a gyaru personality.
Publication
The series is written and illustrated by Minori Chigusa. It was originally released as a guest series on Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine, before beginning serialization in May 2023. The first tankōbon volume was released on December 26, 2023. To commemorate the volume's release, selected Gamers outlets featured a pop-up section selling series merchandise.{{cite web |title=『好都合セミフレンド』コミックス1巻発売記念POP UPを2023年12月26日(火)よりゲーマーズにて開催致します！ |url=https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000004887.000016756.html |publisher=PR Times |access-date=August 3, 2024 |language=Japanese |date=December 11, 2023}}
In December 2024, Yen Press announced that they had licensed the series for English publication beginning in June 2025.{{cite web|last=Tai|first=Anita|title=Yen Press Licenses Sword Art Online Unital Ring, Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian, 13 More Titles|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-12-16/yen-press-licenses-sword-art-online-unital-ring-alya-sometimes-hides-her-feelings-in-russian-13-/.219163|website=Anime News Network|date=December 16, 2024|access-date=December 17, 2024}}
{{Graphic novel list/header
| Width = 100%
| OneLanguage = no
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 1
| RelDate = December 26, 2023{{cite web|script-title=ja:好都合セミフレンド|url=https://houbunsha.co.jp/comics/detail.php?p=%B9%A5%C5%D4%B9%E7%A5%BB%A5%DF%A5%D5%A5%EC%A5%F3%A5%C9|publisher=Houbunsha|access-date=August 5, 2024|lang=ja}}
| ISBN = 978-4-8322-9516-2
| LicensedRelDate = June 24, 2025{{cite web|title=Convenient Semi-Friend, Vol. 1|url=https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855409482-convenient-semi-friend-vol-1|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=December 21, 2024}}
| LicensedISBN = 979-8-8554-0948-2
}}
{{Graphic novel list
| VolumeNumber = 2
| ISBN = 978-4-8322-9585-8
| LicensedRelDate = November 25, 2025{{cite web|title=Convenient Semi-Friend, Vol. 2|url=https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855419603-convenient-semi-friend-vol-2|publisher=Yen Press|access-date=May 24, 2025}}
| LicensedISBN = 979-8-8554-1960-3
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}
Reception
The series was nominated for the 10th Next Manga Awards in 2024 in the print category.{{cite web|last=Mateo|first=Alex|title=Voting Opens for Next Manga Awards 2024|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2024-06-25/voting-opens-for-next-manga-awards-2024/.212369|website=Anime News Network|access-date=August 4, 2024|date=August 4, 2024}}
See also
- Futago Matomete "Kanojo" ni Shinai?, a light novel series illustrated by Minori Chigusa
- Jitsu wa Imōto Deshita, a light novel series illustrated by Minori Chigusa
References
{{reflist}}